Livelihood planning and career guidance in Palestine and the broader MENA region

Abstract

It has often been stated that the Arab ‘‘world’’ is faced by a demographic challenge which is very different to that of many countries in the global North. As the Arab Spring has shown, youths across the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are keen to make a mark, and despite the internal conflicts and

contests for power and influence, many young leaders are hoping to establish new

forms of social cohesion which could lead to peace and prosperity within a

globalised, interconnected world. This paper focuses on one aspect of the relationship between Arab youth and society, namely the difficult transition between

formal education and employment. Drawing on, among other sources, a compara- tive study carried out across eight Arab states, the role which career education and

guidance can play in the process is examined. This is followed by a case study of

Palestine where, despite very challenging and difficult political and economic circumstances, significant and promising efforts have been made to help young people

develop the life skills needed to engage with schooling in ways that do not only

enhance learning, but also facilitate access to work and to self-employment. The

paper argues that while career education and guidance (CEG) cannot possibly be

expected to solve the disconnect between education and work, it does have a role to

play in enhancing learning, in supporting transitions, and thus in contributing to

both social and economic development goals.